| Title | : | Dreaming of Christmas |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 234 |
| Publication | : | First published August 27, 2018 |
Dumped on Christmas Eve by her long-term boyfriend, it's been a rough year for Zoe Lumsley. But then she gets an invitation she can’t refuse: an all expenses paid skiing holiday with old university friends.
The bad news: her ex, Grant, will be there with his new girlfriend. But so will her former flatmate Billy, the organiser, and in the meantime he’s done rather well for himself. As Christmas in the Alps approaches, it'll be great to see the old gang. Some more than others...
Perfect for readers of Tilly Tenant, Holly Martin and Philippa Ashley, this is the perfect magical Christmas getaway from the bestselling T.A. Williams.
Dreaming of Christmas Reviews
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5☆ Enchanting in every sense, it's Irresistibly Warm and Romantic, A Must Read!
I adore T.A Williams books and when I see his latest book Dreaming of Christmas I just had to read it.
Dreaming of Christmas Of A Heartwarming and cosy festive read, that can be read anytime. Just be warned give yourself plenty of time as once you indulge you won't want to put it down.
This time round we meet Zoë.
When Zoë gets an invite to an old Uni friends lavish 5☆ hotel for a meet up. She is very apprehensive about going, as her Ex boyfriend Grant is bound to be there and she's not sure whether she can face him yet.
But her best friend Jules persuades her to take the plunge, after all it's an all expense paid for, in a gorgeous ski location in Austria. What more could you want at Christmas.
There is only one snag, Zoë's boss has found out that her Uni friend happens to be the elusive Mr Billy Fischer, reclusive multi Millionaire and founder of WF Computers. He wants her to dish the dirt on Billy, by getting an exclusive interview in order to gain a promotion.
Can Zoë risk her friendship and the privacy of her friend, or will she let her career and the idea of promotion take over?
Will Zoë and Grant rekindle their love after 10years together or Will Zoë's heart belong to someone new?
As always T.A Williams books wouldn't be complete without a gorgeous Fur Baby 🐶 and Arnie the adorable black Lab stole my heart with his loveable and cheeky ways.
Dreaming of Christmas is a beautiful story about Friendship, relationships, second chances, finding oneself, secrets, fun, humour, wit and drama. What more could you want!
William's has beautifully descriptive writing, which always enables the reader to fully immerse themselves into the heart of the story, which I love. He writes the most mesmerising and amazing stories,
With beautifully relatable and observed characters that spring to life on the page.
Dreaming of Christmas is Enchanting in every sense, it's irresistibly warm and Romantic, a real festive treat that
will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.
The perfect read for lifting your spirits!
Once again Williams has written another Gem of a Book I couldn't put down.
T.A Williams is an incredibly talented Author and one of my favourite Authors.
If you haven't yet had the pleasure of reading one of his books, I definitely recommend reading this Gorgeous Book!
I would like to thank Netgalley & Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2019/0... -
Not the first Christmas book I am reviewing this year, but the first one I read this year which has awakened in me an unquenchable thirst for more and more Christmas stories. The cover was not to my liking, but the blurb more than makes up for it. A reunion of uni friends in the snow-covered Austrian landscape, organised by a billionaire friend is the perfect background for the Christmas tale anyone can hope for.
The direction of the story was quite obvious, or so I thought, until that small but relevant information is slipped to the readers: Billy is happily married to a beautiful wife. Well, you could imagine my shock at this revelation and the tension started to mount with each turn of the page. Finally, my poor little heart was not able to take it anymore, and let's just say it was not one of my proudest moments; yes, I did have a peek at the ending. Come on guys, don't make that nasty face at me. I am making this confession only to advise you not to make the same error of judgement. Trust the author. You will definitely love it however the story goes.
Part of the charm of the novel lies with the amazing setting. One could feel the snow-topped Alps, thanks to the gripping narration, and Billy and Zoe's skiing expeditions only add to the adventure spirit. Zoe was easy to warm up to probably because of her clumsiness, something that I share with her. Her openness and wise advice persuade others to find a solid refuge in her and we couldn't resist loving her.
I don't know how much my review was able to do justice to this wonderful book. It seems I have rambled on quite long. Altogether a fabulous tale that I am going to cherish forever. -
After she was dumped on Christmas Eve by her long-term boyfriend, Zoe is determined to have a wonderful Christmas the following year. Low and behold, her old college roommate turned tech billionaire, invited all his old roomies on a luxury ski trip in the Swiss Alps.
This is a lovely Hallmark Christmas movie of a book. That being the case, I'm guessing you are either going to love it or hate it based on how much you love Hallmark Christmas movies. Since I'm one you'll find curled up in my comfy chair for the whole month of December with hot cocoa in my snuggly pajamas, you can guess which camp I'm in.
There are no real surprises. If you don't know where this story is going from the first two sentences of this review, then you need to turn in your fuzzy socks and penguin mug. If you do, then dig in and enjoy. This book is for you and you are my people. -
I didn’t like this book. The resort sounded like a wonderful place to spend Christmas at, but other than that there was nothing to keep my attention.
I didn’t like the characters. They were stereotypical cardboard cutouts and I didn’t care about them at all. The story was just one cliché after another and so repetitive you can play the drinking game with it and get yourself wasted.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC of Dreaming of Christmas by T.A. Williams in exchange for an honest review. -
I have a huge confession to make. Yes, yet another one. Although I have heard of T.A. Williams, much to my shame I haven’t read one of his books before. After having finished ‘Dreaming Of Christmas’ I am left asking myself ‘why the hell haven’t I read one of his books before?’ It’s safe to say that I now realise just what I have been missing. I absolutely, totally and utterly flipping well loved ‘Dreaming Of Christmas’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to say that I took to Zoe Lumsley from the moment that I first met her. She is in a relationship with a fella called Grant and has been since they were both at university. She thinks that they are both happy but she is dealt the hammer blow that Grant has been playing away from home so to speak. Not only has she been dumped but the love rat only dumps her on Christmas Eve. Believe you, me if I could have jumped inside the pages of the book to give her a hug and then kick him very severely in his nuts. Zoe picks herself up with the help of close friends and family and she manages to carve out a new life for herself. She throws herself into her work as a journalist for a celebrity gossip magazine. She then receives an invitation to a reunion with those she shared a house with at university. The reunion is due to happen in Austria and is all paid for by one of the housemates who has done rather well for himself. This throws up all kinds of feelings in Zoe. She is pretty excited to see all of her university buddies except for the fact that she will be seeing her love rat ex and she thinks that he will bring his new partner. Will the reunion be a huge success? Will Zoe come face to face with her love rat ex? Has Grant brought his new girlfriend? Will Zoe get back with Grant or is she destined to be with somebody else? Will Zoe get the scoop on the reclusive Billy that her boss is demanding? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
I couldn’t help but become seriously addicted to reading ‘Dreaming Of Christmas’ from the moment I picked the book up and began to read. The page numbers flew past at speed and the first time I checked on how much I had read, I was stunned to discover that I had read over 40% of the book. I was so taken by the story, the characters, the author’s writing style and the setting for the story that I just had to keep on reading. The author’s writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn into the story. Indeed I felt as though I was ‘living’ the story so to speak. The author used such vivid descriptions that if I closed my eyes, I could easily imagine that I had been transported to Austria with all the sounds and smells. I also loved the fact that occasionally there was the odd German word which I had to read out loud to use the German degree I obtained but have never used. Another thing I liked was the fact that Billy had a delinquent black Labrador- he clearly has taste but then I am biased since I have two delinquent yellow Labradors myself.
‘Dreaming Of Christmas’ is a delightful, ultimately uplifting, light hearted romantic read guaranteed to get you in the festive mood. I absolutely loved it and I wholeheartedly recommend it to other readers. I can’t wait to read what T. A. Williams comes up with next but whilst I wait I will definitely be seeking out his other books and read them just as soon as I can. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*. -
Amusing, engaging, and delightfully entertaining!
In this latest novel, Dreaming of Christmas, Williams sweeps us away to a wintery paradise where the snow is falling, the accommodations are luxurious, the food is scrumptious, the skiing is magnificent, and love might actually be in the air.
The prose is atmospheric and well turned. The characters are unique, troubled, friendly, and multi-layered. And the story is a compelling tale full of exciting adventures, heartfelt moments, self-discovery, friendship, relationship woes, happiness, romance, and a whole lot of Christmas cheer!
Overall, Dreaming of Christmas is another charming, beautifully descriptive tale by Williams that's the perfect choice for any chilly afternoon spent in front of the fire with a steaming mug of hot chocolate!
Thank you to T.A. Williams and Canelo for providing me with a copy in an exchange for an honest review. -
As usual Trevor had written a lovely lovely story.
I enjoyed the background to the group, their history together, and what you could see was happening in the group.
The area sounded lovely and the hotel sounded amazing!
An easy to read quick book, perfect to read at Christmas time. -
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Chill and read
This was exactly the book I needed to read and I’m so glad I had the chance to listen to the audiobook of “Dreaming of Christmas” by T.A. Williams. That’s actually my first of his books, but I definitely want to read some more. I’m sure they will bring me some of this heartwarming feeling I got out of this one!
On this book, we follow Zoe, who was happily preparing for the Christmas dinner when her long term boyfriend, Grant, decided to dump her on Christmas Eve. That was not his best move, but it seams that Grant never grew up! Now, it’s been almost a year after this not so lovely event and she’s not really sure how she feels, especially because Christmas will remind her of what happened last year. But she has received an invite she cannot refuse. She’s invited to spend her Christmas days on an Austrian resort, having an all expenses paid skiing holiday with a chance to reunite with old university friends. This does sound like the most wonderful escape, but there is a drawback. Her ex, Grant, is one of those university friends and will most probably be there as well, as he loves snowboarding and would not easily pass such an opportunity.
But Billy, her former flatmate, that shy boy that used to spend most of his time in his room with his computer is the organizer of the event and he seems to have done rather well for himself. Zoe hasn’t seen him in years and she always liked Billy, so despite the chance of Grant being there as well, Zoe decides to go to that beautiful hotel in the Alps. After all, it will not only be Grant and Billy there, but so many good friends she hasn’t seen in years! And, as if that’s not enough, there will be snow and ski!
Dreaming of Christmas is a cozy festive read that could be read anytime actually, as long as you don’t mind reading about snow and skiing during summer days. It is a book about friendships and about relationships in general, second chances and finding our other half. It’s a book about realizing what it is in life one wants and how to think of and take care of oneself, especially on occasions that we usually put others first.
The scenery was one of the things that made the book all the more appealing. Being in a five star hotel in the Alps, seeing snow all around you and visiting a town up in the mountains that seems so out of the ordinary, makes the perfect setting for a winter romance. That and the fact that the main characters were so skillful and adventurous out there and down the slopes was everything you could ask for in order to cuddle with a hot beverage and a blanket by the fireplace.
The narrator was amazing! Anne Marie Piazza gave life to all the characters, not exaggerating a bit and making me love listening to Zoe. Billy was especially portrayed with his own special voice, that made it obvious he was significant in this book. The writing and the narration as well made me love these two characters so much, that I wanted them to follow a specific path. Thankfully, the author was kind to me and made my wish true!
This book is expected to be published on October 29 2021.
Thanks to NetGalley and Saga Egmont Audio for the opportunity to listen and review this audiobook. The views expressed are my personal and honest opinion. -
I started off my Christmas themed reading by listening to Dreaming of Christmas by T. A. Williams and it was a good start indeed.
Zoe gets dumped by her longtime boyfriend Grant on Christmas eve. Exactly a year later she is invited, alongwith a few old University friends/flatmates, to an all expenses paid skiing holiday to Austria organised by one of the group member Billy. Zoe is excited about the vacation and at the prospect of meeting her old friends after a decade but is also wary: her ex Grant will also be there with his new girlfriend, the woman he dumped Zoe for while her boss dangles the promise of a promotion on the condition that she gets all the inside scoop on her friend Billy who is now a tech multi millionaire.
Even if there is not much in terms of a holiday romance in the book, Dreaming of Christmas hits all the right cozy spots with its setting and description of Austria, the snowy Alps, the skiing and the wonderful resort hotel. This is the second book written by T. A. Williams I have listened to and he knows how to bring a tourist destination to life with his descriptive and charming writing which is supported very well by Anne Marie Piazza's narration.
My thanks to NetGalley, the audio publisher Saga Egmont Audio and the author T. A. Williams for the audio ARC of the book.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 -
This was such a beautifully written Christmas book. It had the perfect setting in a luxury ski resort with falling snow! A group of old University friends who shared a house, have been invited to spend Christmas together in a really posh hotel with no expense spared. Who could resist such an invitation. His trademark labrador character makes a lovely appearance.
Zoe split with her long term boyfriend the previous Christmas Eve and the past year has been tough. She will find it difficult to see him, but is determined to move on. Their host, the geek of the original house has become a very wealthy man and he has planed the most perfect Christmas break for them all. He has trips organised, a personal floor of the hotel with dedicated staff attending to their every needs and days spent ski-ing or relaxing.
You really wish that you could jump into the pages of the book to enjoy this extra special holiday amongst friends. As with any large group of people. there are a few niggles and worries between them. You do wonder whether Zoe will fall back in love with her old boyfriend, or whether her interests might be diverted in another direction.
I enjoyed every page of this book and could have curled up with a lovely mug of hot chocolate and a travel brochure, to book myself a trip to this resort. -
An absolutely charming Holiday tale!
T.A. Williams does an amazing job setting the stage for Zoe’s Austrian holiday. I enjoyed the descriptions of the lavish hotel, the picturesque surroundings, and the sophisticated events the friends attended.
More a self discovery, hurt/comfort story than a traditional romance, Dreaming of Christmas is the story of Zoe’s personal journey. Reuniting with school friends, coming to terms with her breakup with her ex, and refocusing her goals for her career come first. With brighter prospects for her future on the horizon, this is an uplifting tale.
Anne Marie Piazza does a lovely job with the narration. There is a wide range of characters and accents, plus a number of traditional Austrian words, and Ms. Piazza keeps the story flowing.
Thank you to Netgalley, TA Williams and Saga Egmont Audio for an audiobook copy of Dreaming of Christmas, all opinions are my own -
No T. A. Williams book could be complete without a black labrador, so I was delighted to meet Archie, our four legged friend for the book. In terms of cuteness hes is matched only by Bella, the 5 year old daughter of one of Zoe's old housemates.
For Zoe and the others that all lived together have been invited to a reunion in an all expenses paid holiday to Austria over Christmas, by the reclusive success story of the group.
This is a book filled with festive cheer, skiing, glorious Austrian settings, a grand romantic gesture, a few men that are bit great specimens of their species, this was a joy to read.
I loved the descriptions of the setting and felt as though I was there beside Zoe and her friends, Of course it isn't all plain sailing, there are some rather dramatic moments too which added to the appeal.
Then there are the others in this group on holiday with whom Zoe takes on a agony aunt sort of role. With the exception of her ex boyfriend, I really liked all the other characters, especially once they started to open up a bit, and we got to see their true selves.
I loved how everyone seemed to gain such a lot from this holiday. Billy the organiser and reason they are all together has apparently changed massively since they last knew him, but as a result he was easily one of my favourite characters and although I had sort of work out where sections of the book were going, my reasoning was completely out!
This is a fun festive read, that I read incredibly quickly and I really enjoyed my time spent in the Austrian Alps with Zoe and the gang.
Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. -
**audiobook version**
Narrator 3 stars
The narrator had a really beautiful voice, but I personally hated her Billy voice. It was so monotone it was painfully to listen to which made me dislike that character so much.
Story 3 stars
This wasn't the romantic Christmas novel I thought it would be but it was s enjoyable. I think if the above was different would have felt a stronger connection to the characters -
This is a brilliant addition to the ‘Dreaming of…’ series by this highly talented author. Each book has a stupendous setting which the author brings vividly to life in his stories and this is no exception. In this case the story is set in the Austrian Alps, at an exclusive resort where journalist Zoe has been invited, along with several other friends who had shared the same house whilst studying, to spend an expenses paid holiday over the festive season by one of their friends, Billy, who has been highly successful. This is a much better option than the previous year when the man she’d been with for more than a decade broke up with her and left on Christmas Eve....or is it? The problems are that her ex is also going to be there…. and she's been told to get an exclusive interview with Billy to help keep her job!
As old friends reconnect there are relationships to reevaluate, ski slopes to explore, secrets to uncover and love to be found as well as a delightful black Labrador to keep everyone amused! Get ready for another superb read with plenty of well developed characters to get to know, an intriguing story line to keep you guessing and the fantastic, opulent setting and emotively portrayed relationships to help keep you warm with festive feelings whatever the time of year!
I’ve loved every book I’ve read by this talented author and this is another winner as far as I am concerned. His stories are always ones I eagerly anticipate reading and thoroughly enjoy escaping into - and this one is definitely another of those. I have absolutely no hesitation in highly recommending this delightful festive read and eagerly look forward to reading and re-reading more by this author in future! -
A fun Christmas friend's reunion and vacation.
Billy invites a bunch of old friends on a luxurious skiing vacation. Of course everyone is a bit different from who they once were.
I felt like this book was more about just friends having fun instead of having much of a plot. Yes, there was some drama with Zoe seeing her ex Grant, but overall I didn't find much substance until very close to the end.
I'm glad that I had the audiobook version of this book since the narrator was pretty engaging and easy to listen to. If I was reading a physical copy I may have given up part of the way through instead of finishing it.
3 stars for the audiobook version due to a good narrator.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this Audiobook in exchange for my honest review. -
Get ready to wrap up warm and don your ski's as you're about to experience the perfect winter holiday. A top notch hotel with all expenses paid and a handsome guy to show you the ropes. When Zoe is invited on an all expenses paid holiday to reunite with her University family she jumps at the chance, after all she is in need of some cheering up and it can't be worse than getting dumped on Christmas Eve surely...
Although, there is the small matter of her ex also being on the holiday but she's determined not to let Grant ruin this time away for her.
I loved watching Zoe and Billy's friendship growing and was so eager for them to get together but he's married and you just know that Zoe wouldn't get in the way of that, even if I did keep having the feeling that this marriage wasn't as happy as it seemed. I have to admit I didn't think too highly of Daniella and was sure there was more going on with her than met the eye, it was the way that she doesn't seem bothered at all that Billy and Zoe are spending so much time together - if it was me I wouldn't have been that calm!
Zoe quickly fell back into her uni role of agony aunt and it seemed that everyone on the holiday still came to her for advice, if only they'd have carried on doing this between Uni and now there may not have been as many 'interesting' moments. Some of these revelations were shocks to me and I think Zoe handled them really well, not letting her own emotions get in the way of her responses.
Throughout listening to this I kept having the thought that the article (or lack thereof) was going to come back and bite Zoe in the bum, especially when we hear that Lorna had an old friend coming to visit for the Ball as I was sure this was going to be connected somehow. I wasn't expecting what did happen though that's for sure!
I loved the way that the story ended, and it felt so fitting to see everyone benefitting from the holiday in their own unique way. It wasn't just friends that reunited on this holiday but also relationships and it really did make my heart feel warm. -
Zoe is invited to an all expenses paid Christmas trip to the Alps by Billy, a nerdy friend from college that has since become a reclusive tech billionaire. It is a reunion of their entire group from college, including Zoe’s ex boyfriend, one year after he broke up with her on Christmas Eve.
This book was… odd. Initially I really enjoyed it, Zoe reeling from the breakup and deciding whether to go on this trip with her ex and his new girlfriend- I was sympathetic and intrigued. The descriptions were also excellent. The author described the luminous Alps and the cheery Christmas decorations of the hotel with such detail that I felt like I was walking down the halls with them. The pacing was my main issue of this book. There was SO much meandering that I kept wondering were the plot wandered off to. There would be entire chapters devoted to discussing plans, going to do said plans (dinner, a classical concert, etc), then going to bed. I was listening to the audiobook and at one point I remember looking down, realizing there was only 45 minutes left in the book, and literally worrying because nothing had really actually HAPPENED YET. 😬 It is billed as a romance but at a remote hotel the only love connections presented were either her jerk ex or several married men. Like I said, it was odd.
Another thing I have to mention is how incredibly annoyed I was at the worn out trope of the “adorably clumsy leading lady.” Every time she would trip and fall, drink something wrong and have a coughing fit, or spill her champagne all over the dog, I would roll my eyes. It was also very distracting how constantly worried she was about how many “calories” were in something and whether she “deserved” to eat it. Haven’t we moved past this yet? The clumsy but adorable girl who debates endlessly over a slice of cake?
Lastly, the audiobook narrator. She did a great job with Zoe and the general narration, but for Billy’s voice, one of the main characters, it was noticeably quieter then the rest of the recording. I grew to the point where I was actually annoyed when he was in a scene because it meant I’d have to turn my volume WAY up just to hear his pathetic little monotone voice, only to be blasted when anyone else talked. Another odd choice for this odd book. -
A wonderful Christmas story wrapped in a poignant look at the choices we make and the lies we tell ourselves as well as others that bring us to a crossroads in life. Sometimes the choices are of our own doing and sometimes they are the choices of others imposed upon our lives that make us sit up and take a hard look at where are. A reunion of college friends in their 30's helps many of the characters make better choices, while others continue on the path they have already laid down. A refreshingly real cast of characters with a touch of Cinderella gets her prince mixed in. If you like a touching Christmas story, then this one is for you!
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Recensione presente nel blog
www.ragazzainrosso.wordpress.com
È la vigilia di Natale quando la vita di Zöe Lumsley cambia improvvisamente: Grant, il suo fidanzato, la lascia di punto in bianco dicendole che si è innamorato di un’altra donna. Dopo un anno trascorso a incollare i cocci del suo cuore, Zöe accetta l’invito di Billy, ex collega di università ora diventato un pezzo grosso nel mondo dell’informatica, di trascorrere le feste natalizie in un albergo di lusso in Austria. L’uomo, infatti, ha deciso di riunire tutti i vecchi coinquilini (Grant incluso). Nonostante le perplessità, Zöe accetta l’invito, conscia della presenza di Grant e allo stesso tempo certa di possedere la maturità giusta per poter convivere sotto lo stesso tetto del suo ex per una settimana. Durante questi giorni trascorsi in compagnia non mancheranno di certo sorprese inaspettate.
“Ti ho finalmente detto ciò che aspettavo di dirti da anni. Se ci volessi pensare, ne sarei molto, molto felice. Prendi tempo. Tutto il tempo che vuoi.”
Punto di forza di questo romanzo (e, a mio parere, l’unico) è rappresentato dall’ambientazione. L’autrice, infatti, fornisce al lettore un’ottima possibilità d’immergersi nel clima austriaco invernale sia attraverso le scene ambientate sulla neve nei celebri impianti da sci, sia attraverso i riferimenti alla tradizione culinaria, e dolciaria soprattutto, del territorio.
Purtroppo risulta difficile provare empatia nei confronti dei personaggi. Zöe, la protagonista, è indubbiamente una donna indipendente, con un lavoro nel campo del giornalismo e incredibilmente romantica. Delusa dall’uomo che credeva di amare, si ritrova faccia a faccia col passato e con la possibilità di ripartire proprio da qui per costruire un meraviglioso futuro. Personalmente mi sarebbe piaciuto assistere a questa sua “maturazione” in maniera meno precipitosa.
L’amicizia tra gli ex coinquilini è evidente così come i cambiamenti naturali dovuti allo scorrere del tempo, il voler dare di sé un’immagine che non corrisponde al vero, eppure si avverte che manca qualcosa, un collante che tenga insieme gli avvenimenti.
Secondo me a pesare è lo stile della prosa che, pur essendo semplice, si rivela per certi versi acerbo e “distaccato”. Appaiono bruschi i passaggi narrativi da un evento all’altro e il ritmo piuttosto lento rende la lettura e il coinvolgimento emotivo davvero difficili. Solo nella parte finale, dove non mancano i colpi di scena, si riesce a entrare realmente nella vicenda.
Un romanzo con degli ottimi presupposti che, a mio parere, non riesce a brillare quanto meriterebbe. -
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
I actually read this Christmas story on the hottest day in 2018 and I loved it - it left me feeling upbeat, positive and happy... and very Christmassy!! It is an excellent story and I really, really enjoyed it!
I loved the setting for the book, it was really well written and at times I almost felt I was living the story with the characters, I was completely caught up in the story and I love it when that happens - it, for me, is the sign of an excellent book!
It has fantastic characters and a brilliant storyline, I simply couldn't put it down and I read it in an afternoon - very highly recommended and no hesitation in giving it 5 stars - a brilliant Christmas story! -
Zoë Lumsley had barely stepped into her flat after a few days spent with her parents when the phone rang. It was Juliet, her old friend from their university days. She and Juliet had shared a house with several other students during the final year, and Juliet had been the one Zoë turned to when her long term partner, Grant, upped and left her for someone else the previous Christmas Eve. One of their house mates, Billy Fischer, had gone on to great things. Now a reclusive billionaire, Billy has organised an all paid for reunion at a luxury Austrian hotel over Christmas. The downside for Zoë is that her ex will probably be there too, but she’s had a rough year and is determined to put Grant in the past and keep him there. Maybe this is just what she needs.
'As she sat at a table outside by the river that evening, waiting for Juliet to appear, Zoë sipped her Prosecco and turned the conundrum of Billy’s invitation round and round in her head. One the one hand, the idea of seeing her ex again was challenging, but at the same time, the thought of a week in a luxury hotel on the ski slopes had considerable appeal.’
The story is told from Zoë’s third person perspective. She’s unhappy in her job working as a journalist for a celebrity magazine and would love to get a job as a more serious journalist. Making the mistake of mentioning her Christmas plans at work, she finds herself in a difficult position with the real possibility of losing this job before she has chance to find another. As the friends reunite and catch up on the news over last ten years, some are putting on a front, not quite what they seem. Decisions have to be made, lives need to be examined and reflected on, changes considered seriously.
The gorgeous setting is described in vivid detail, and I could imagine being there. It’s just the kind of place where I’d love to spend Christmas – lots of snow and cold sunny days. Billy spoils his guests – there’s lots of beautiful scenery, snow, skiing and delicious sounding food, a good mix of well drawn and likeable characters plus a cute black lab puppy. I was hoping Zoë wouldn’t do anything silly, she had a couple of opportunities to mess up her life. I couldn’t see when or where the chance for romance would occur. Then I wondered…but discounted that idea. Was I right? I’m not telling!
An enjoyable, easy read, perfect for an afternoon snuggled cosily in a chair in front of the fire, preferably as the world outside the window turns white. -
One of my favorite things to do is read Christmas books. This book started off so promising, but completely missed the mark for me. I did listen to this as an audiobook and I was not a fan of the narration so that may be why I have strong feelings about it. Here I'm breaking down the review of the story vs. the narration.
The story: 3 stars
This Christmas tale follows Zoe Lumsley who was dumped by her boyfriend Grant the previous year on Christmas Eve. Zoe has been slowly getting on with her life when she is invited to an all-expense paid trip to the Austrian Alps for Christmas by a former college housemate. The catcher is that her ex has also been invited and will likely bring the woman he dumped her for. Zoe's friend Juliet convinces her to accept the offer and they plan to go together. When they arrive they are reacquainted with their former housemates and Grant has turned up alone. He does seem to want Zoe back, but she's not sure if she really wants him anymore. She begins to get closer to her friend Billy, who is the billionaire extraordinaire who is hosting them for the week. The downside is that Billy is newly married to a gorgeous Italian named Daniella. As the week leads up to Christmas secrets are discovered about the group and Zoe realizes that things are not always as they seem. The characters are a bit two dimensional and everyone is just so damn nice. Well not everyone, but most. It's a bit unrealistic really. I felt they were all a bit stereotypical: you have the self-centered beauty, the promiscuous one, the brainy one, the college lovers who ended up married, etc. Also these people are all in their early thirties and out of 8 people only 2 have a child (together), so they all seem to be a bit emotionally stunted really. I enjoyed the wintery wonderland descriptions of the town and the resort. It sounds like a magical place. The group seemed like a lovely one to be a part of once you got past the stereotypes and I may have liked them all better had I read the book rather than listened to the narration.
The narration: 2 stars
The narrator herself has quite a lovely voice, but a few of her "character" voices were just so grating, especially Juliet and Billy. The narrator missed the mark on those two completely. Billy was all breathy and monotoned, while Juliet just sounded meek and also breathy, but not in the same way. She made me think of a wonderland fairy TBH, not a prominent surgeon. The dialogue between the characters was so forced and everyone was just piling on platitudes. Frankly it was weird. How many guys do you know who constantly compliment other women about their appearance, personality, etc. in front of their wives? It was a bit daft really.
So the premise of this book was quite lovely, but the execution was not the best. Thank you to NetGalley, Sage Egmont Audio, and T.A. Williams for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. -
Many thanks to Saga Egmont Audio and NetGalley for sending me the audiobook version of Dreaming of Christmas in exchange for an honest review.
Writing a review about this book is going to be a bit difficult for me because I have mixed feelings about it.
The story was complex yet lighthearted. The center of everything was adultery. That is what I have problems with.
Zoe, our protagonist was cheated on a dumped on Christmas. Trying to recover from her terrible luck, she falls in love with a married man (yes, married man).
This is where my problem with this book arises.
Zoe falls in love with the billionaire founder of a computer company. She knew him since they were in college, yet she didn't think that he has attractive back then, because he was too nerdy. He wore glasses and only focused on his studies and work. But seeing him now, in good shape, filthy rich and without glasses, catches her interest. But he's married to a gorgeous woman. Zoe is jealous and wishes that he "met him before his wife did" but then she remembers that she in fact, has known him for a loooong while.
The plot twist makes things better, but that doesn't change the fact that Zoe is a petty, jealous woman.
I definitely don't think that this is a good "romance" story. It's an interesting story, but definitely not a good love story.
The narrator did an excellent job with the female voices. The male voices were okay, but not exceptional.
Over all, the narrator was great. -
Dreaming of Christmas was released in 2018, but I never got the chance to read it. When the audibook was offered for review, I jumped at the chance. I love T.A. Williams' "travel romance" books and this was another winner for me. The book opens with Zoë being dumped by her boyfriend of ten years on Christmas Eve. We then fast forward one year to Zoë and a group of her university friends being invited to a lavish hotel for an all expense paid holiday in Austria. Everyone in the group had lived in a house together and one of the group, Billy, is now a multi-millionaire. He invites them all for a reunion. The only problem is that Grant, her ex is probably going to be there. But her best friend Jules persuades her to take the plunge, after all it's an all expense paid vacation to a gorgeous ski location in Austria. What more could you want at Christmas. The other problem is that Zoë is working for a not very reputable newspaper and her boss wants her to get an interview with the elusive Mr Billy Fischer. Knowing her boss, he wants dirt. Can Zoë risk her friendship and the privacy of her friend, or will she let her career and the idea of promotion take over? What will happen when Zoë and Grant meet up again for the first time in a year?
Dreaming of Christmas is a beautiful story about friendship, relationships, second chances, finding oneself, secrets, fun, humour, wit and drama. The cast of characters is diverse with everyone having a problem or some issues. I liked Zoë and was thrilled to see her stand up for herself on more than one occasion. Billy, the person responsible for the reunion is another great character. He was a geek in university, so the others didn't know him as well as they liked, but he remembered them. He was still a bit quiet but over the story, he and Zoë talk a lot and we get to know what a great guy he is. There are a few things that happened that didn't surprise me at all, but I don't want to spoil the story for anyone so won't say what they were. I loved the descriptions of the various activities at the resort and the Christmas activities in the town. I will tell you there is a happily ever after, but you will need to read the story to find out who gets it. All the characters have some growth and sort out some things in their lives, so it is a winning trip for all who attend. I definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy romance, armchair travel and Christmas stories. The book was narrated by Anne Marie Piazza. She gives voices to the various characters and uses expression, tone and emotion to add interest to the story. Besides the voice of Billy, which I disliked a lot, the audiobook was a nice way to experience this story. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own. -
Transformative Holiday
Audiobook Review
This book opens very dramatically, showing our heroine being unceremoniously dumped by her longtime boyfriend on Christmas Eve because he wants to be with another woman. You can't help but feel sympathy for her from this very first scene and as we see little moments as she goes through the next year adjusting to her new life. Most of the book, however, is set in a fancy hotel/resort in Austria the next Christmas. A former university housemate—the nerdy, quiet guy, Billy—has done very well for himself in the tech industry and invites all the former housemates to stay at this resort over Christmas. While she is at first reluctant to go because she knows the ex will be there, she—with a little help from her friends—decides to go. I never reread a book's description before I read the actual book, so for quite a long time, I wasn't sure if this was going to be a Christmas romance, chick lit, or something else. It seemed to be chick lit for quite some time, but the author did a fantastic job giving every housemate a storyline that the heroine I was deeply involved with, as she was the compassionate ear everyone turns to. Each character grew or changed, usually for the better. Quite remarkable in a book with a large cast of characters! Billy made the experience of an Austrian Christmas wonderful for everyone. I enjoyed just hearing about what they were going to do each day. I read a lot of romance and other fiction, and the twist at the end genuinely surprised me, which I love! I was so happy about it, but I wished the author provided an epilogue to give a brief glimpse into the characters’ futures. For the most part, I thought the narrator did a good job giving unique vocal stylings to each character. She even managed to capture the joy and awe of the little girl during her Christmas vacation. The only voice I didn't like was Billy's, as it sounded like he was mumbling or whispering all the time. I thought he should have had a stronger voice. All in all, though, I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook and recommend it.
I received a free copy of this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.
My book blog:
https://www.readingfanaticreviews.com -
One thing you can be sure of with T. A. Williams' 'Dreaming of' series, is that there will be not only a smashing story but also an amazing setting - and this novel is no exception.
Zoe's partner of 10 years decides to tell her on Christmas eve that he has someone else and is moving out right away. Fast forward through her worst times, and an ex-uni friend who was a bit of a nerd and has now succeeded in business beyond all their wildest dreams invites all the old flatmates to join him in Austria for an all-expenses paid break over Christmas. The bad news is that ALL flatmates includes the ex who dumped Zoe less than a year ago ...
This is an absolutely stunning read! The setting is magnificent, the luxury is opulent and, as always with this author, a black labrador puts in a cute and very welcome appearance! Skilfully crafted, the characters are a wonderful mix and their individual personalities shine through. Add in a terrific storyline with lots going on, this is one to command your full attention and leave you with the feeling of warm happiness and in eager expectation of the festive season. Deserving of five, snow-dusted, sparkling stars!
My thanks to publisher Canelo for my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest original and unbiased review. -
The setting, the drama, the romance, and the characters all combine to make DREAMING OF CHRISTMAS by T.A. Williams the perfect read to curl up on the sofa with and completely relax.
Zoe is struggling to get over a breakup with her long-term boyfriend but when an old college friend gets in touch and offers her a trip of a lifetime, she would be a fool to refuse. Even if it does means spending time with her ex. Anyway, she will be too busy with her other old friends in a place that will take her breath away to worry about Grant and his new girlfriend. Well, that's the plan anyway. But as we all know, life rarely goes to plan ...
I completely fell in love with the Alps as the writer makes the setting burst alive in front of your eyes and it was pure escapism for me every time I read a page. The characters are interesting, flawed, and compelling in their own ways and there are a couple of small surprises along the way which I didn't expect, but you will have to read it to find out for yourself! There is beauty, friendship, drama, and pure magic in the air in DREAMING OF CHRISTMAS by T.A. Williams and I highly recommend it to all contemporary fiction fans.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book via Netgalley -
Dreaming of Christmas by T. A. Williams and audiobook narrated by Anne Marie Piazza is a great contemporary romance that left me feeling festive, warm, and cozy.
This is the first book I have read by this author and I will definitely read more from him now.
I enjoyed the winter scenery in the picturesque mountains of Austria. Ski slopes and snow abound in this second chance romance that I just adored.
I loved Zoe and I enjoyed this story where we see Zoe’s moral compass put to the test and I feel she held up her end of the bargain. I liked her. She is imperfect, yet likable, realistic, smart, and I enjoyed her character and how she responded to the surprises immensely.
Such a Christmas-y and festive holiday romance that has me thinking about decorating the house asap.
5/5 stars
Thank you NG, Canelo, and Saga Egmont Audio for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 10/29/21. -
I like this author quite a lot. I think this is about my 10th of his books. His love stories have way more than that…lots of interaction with a larger cast of characters…his settings are always stunning (normally Italy and not Austria but I am not complaining!) and best of all, he has the requisite black Lab who always seems to steal the show.
This particular book requires a fairly significant suspension of disbelief when a billionaire software tycoon invites his former flat mates on a weekend at a ski resort…. People he apparently has not seen in a decade. I enjoyed the story, although they were an awful lot more descriptions of skiing than I really needed.
Some thing that I realized while reading somebody else’s review is how often this author writes about sumptuous meals, but how often the female love interest eats sparingly, or “watches what she eats“. I feel like there might be some subtle fat shaming in there and feel like in 2020-whatever-year-this-book-was-written, we should be beyond that. At one point the main character in this book decides to “be a good girl” and forego the more decadent food option. Just, no.
There are also a lot of references in the book as to how clumsy she is. I feel like better friends would be concerned after her and not make fun. But I am not of that demographic so I can’t say.
In spite of it all, it was a good way to spend a cozy Saturday morning lie in, two weeks before Christmas. -
Once again the author has excelled. One thing for sure, there is always an excellent sense of place in TA Williams's books and this one is no exception. I loved the descriptions of Austria, especially the snow - so evocative I had to snuggle the cat to keep warm. The food and drink really add to the ambience too.
The story kept me turning the pages as each of the ex-flatmates reveals a little more about their life. lots of hidden secrets, subterfuge and some great characters. I really couldn't see how this book could end well. Without spoiling it I'll say that it ended as I had hoped but in a way that I hadn't expected. This is such a lovely book to curl up with and even the cat appreciated it. Send gluhwein next time.
